I received a message from a woman who had some concerns related to her navel piercing:

Hello,I got my belly done yesterday but it looks quite bloated? Is it supposed to be? And also is it possible to loose weight whilst wearing a belly bar? Thankyou:)

My reply:There could be some localized swelling but it would not be normal for a navel piercing to result in generalized abdominal bloating. In fact, I can't think of a single medical reason that a piercing could cause that to happen. More likley you have eaten something that doesn't agree with you.

Also, the ability to lose (or gain) weight relates to the intake of calories and output of energy. There is no relation between your navel piercing and your body's ability to gain, lose, or maintain your weight.

That said, during initial healing you need to be conscious of not injuring the area or causing excessive trauma during physical activities.

Below are a few related sections from The Piercing Bible:

Physical Activity and Exercise

Generally, you can exercise during healing if you avoid extremes of motion and prevent impact to the pierced area. Still, your activities often need to be modified—at least for a while—if they cause problems with your piercing.

My left nipple has been pierced the EXACT same amount as my right and it still leaks, nearly every morning I have crustys that I must clean off, and a bit through out the day. Nothing excessive, though sometimes in the morning I find dried blood. I have had to go up in size on my left nipple slightly when the nipple got a bit bigger but only on one side. I have pictures that I would gladly send, however I saw no option on your website for me to attach :( I want to know is there way to get my left nipple back to regular without having to take the piercing out? Is it rejecting at a very slow rate? Will my nipple be this way forever?

My reply:

You definitely do have some scar tissue formation going on there.

Do you feel like it is continuing to grow, or if it has stabilized?

I don't know if perhaps that side was pierced a little deeper than not he other one? In any case, I have some suggestions from my book for dealing with excess scar tissue (called hypertrophic scarring) and I posted it here on this website.

I received a photo from a woman who was concerned that her VCH piercing wasn't properly placed (after viewing this website). She was correct:

I told her:Unfortunately, you're going to need to abandon your piercing. It is simply placed too close to the edge of your hood for safety (even if you were to change out the super long bar for a shorter one). There is a high risk of migration and rejection (which can result in a split hood!). Also, the jewelry is nowhere near your clitoris. So even if you wated to keep it, you would not be expected to experience any enhaced sensation from it.

I think you should talk to the owner of the studio and try to get your money back.

Who did the piercing for you? Where are you located? Perhaps I can suggest a qualified professional in your area.

I just recently pierced my labia minora and I have been cleansing it with saline solution three times a day. It burns like crazy when I go to the bathroom though. I don't know if that can infect it or what I need to do to prevent infection. Please help. Thanks.

Photo of a woman with a VCH (Vertical Clitoral Hood) and inner labia (labia minora) piercings

This is an excerpt from my book, The Piercing Bible--The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing, and I think it could help you:

Genital Piercing: Urinating

Bodily fluids are apt to get on certain genital piercings, which is not a problem—if they are your own. Urine is one of man’s first antiseptics and, if you are healthy, your own liquid waste will not harm your piercing. The regular passage of urine over the jewelry helps to minimize crusting, too. Urine can sting during the first few days of healing, so drink lots of water. This dilutes the urine and lowers the acidity, which minimizes discomfort. Cranberry juice or large quantities of orange juice or vitamin C will make your urine acidic,1 which may cause excess discomfort. Additionally, you can pour a clean cup of water—warm or cool, as you prefer—over the area as you urinate. This rinses off the urine so it doesn’t linger uncomfortably, and the water feels soothing.

I got a message from a man who had both his nipples pierced, and he suspected something was not right with one of them:

Hello! I recently got both nipples pierced. My right one looks very good, but my left one doesn't look like it has pierced enough tissue, and as such, is making me very nervous. They have been in for a little over a week at this point, there is no pain, and minor crusting. Does it appear to be ok? Or should I remove it, let it heal, and then have it redone?

Thanks!

My reply:

Unfortunately, that piercing is far too close to the surface to be viable. If you don't remove it, I am sure that it will reject completely, which can leave you with a split scar.

I think you should get your money back--that was NOT properly pierced. I would suggest you wait at least 4 weeks before repiercing, and make sure the tissue feels pliable. If it feels dense or tight, I would continue to wait. You may want to try a scar reduction product to facilitate the healing after the wound seals over.

I would strongly advise you visit a more competent professional to redo it; I would not trust the individual who performed the original piercing.

If you would like to have me evaluate the other side, feel free to send another photo.

I received a message from a piercee who I'd assisted previously. This time it was about an industrial project: two piercing in the ear cartilage connected by a single barbell.

Hi. You helped me clear up an infection last year in another piercing I have so I thought I'd contact u about a new problem I'm having with a new piercing...

I got an industrial piercing a month ago. I cleaned it 4 times a day with saline solution like the piercer advised, didn't sleep on it, didn't bother it. Well, it still hurts to the touch where the barbell enters my ear as well as throbs throughout day/night. I still can't sleep on it. Now I notice lumps at 3 entrance points. I've done a sea salt soak a day and put emu oil on the site at least once a day since noticing these lumps. I still try to clean it with saline 3 times a day. What else can I do? I attached some pics. Thank u

I received yet another email from a woman who felt her "triangle piercing" wasn't properly placed. She was right:

I received a triangle piercing three days ago. I'm feeling a lot of discomfort. can you please take a look at my piercing. I just want to make sure it was done correctly.

Nope--sorry, it is not even close. It looks to be about an inch south of where it should be. The triangle should be right beneath the clitoral shaft, which goes back and up from your clitoral glans. We can clearly see the head of your clitoral glans peeking out from underneath the "inverted V" of your hood. The piercing would need to be quite near to there... So you have the piercing equivalent of about a mile off from where it should have been placed. There is no likelihood of you receiving the type of stimulation that a properly placed triangle piercing can provide (from the back of the clitoris).

Fortunately, it is unlikely that you will suffer any damage to vital structures from the piercing being so low. It is more of a missed opportunity for enhancement, plus the pain or discomfort and also the expense of going through a piercing that isn't what you wanted, and isn't located where it is supposed to be.

I also marked your images with the approximate location of a triangle.

Her reply:

The piercer's name was Perry. He works at Gold Coast studio in Monterey, CA. I initially went in for a VCH , but was told that I was suited for it. I'm more upset that he suggested the triangle knowing he didn't have experience performing the procedure.

I got an interesting message from a man who had received a poorly placed Prince Albert piercing:

Hello Ma'am,

I recently 2 weeks ago got a PA at what is know as a good local piercer at my town. The piercing was done with a 12g after the initial pain went away I began to feel like a blade cutting into me. By day three I saw that the hole had already stretched so I changed it to an 8g. The 8g fit right in, no pain, no more discomfort and it felt great when in use. By the end of the first week I no longer had any discharge, pain, redness, nothing. It felt like its been there all my life. I liked the piercing so much I started to read everywhere about things I could do to make it cooler or better. At one point I saw your site and did a lot of reading there. (By the way, best site on the net about piercings) I noticed that every good PA had at least past the penis glans. As you can see on the picture I sent my hole is just 1/4 inch from the tip of my urethra split. I also noticed by week two the my PA had stretched a little more. Even though I had no pain and it looked great I felt I had too little skin for the PA to remain. This picture was taken only 24hours since I took out my PA and already the piercing is closing. Now I love the PA and will do it again. So I need some opinion from you.